Export officials approve trail extension, will seal borough parking lot

After meeting with members of the Export Business Group, borough officials gave the go-ahead for Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials to extend the trail about 750 feet farther east.

“The biggest thing we all agreed on was that they needed to put (trail) parking spots on the south side of the trail because anything else will take away spots from downtown businesses,” Mayor Joe Zaccagnini said.

In June, Export Business Group officials brought up the issue surrounding how the trail extension could cause the loss of spaces in the borough’s parking lot off Washington Avenue.

“They also suggested sealing the parking lot and painting parking lines,” Zaccagnini said. Council awarded a $6,299 contract to Delmont-based RDK to perform that work.

“We asked for it to be done in time for the borough festival on Aug. 20,” Zaccagnini said. “And I know it’s tough, but the parking lot would have to be closed two days in a row for them to get it done.”

With long-term plans to pave the entire lot and integrate it into a redesigned downtown area, the mayor said the sealing and line painting doesn’t have to last forever.

“I told them this is basically a two-year job we’re looking for,” he said. “We have shoes without leather, and we’re asking for a spit-shine finish.”

Council members also agreed to look into the purchase of parking bumpers to more clearly denote where spaces are available in the lot.

“It’ll help solve a lot of problems even if you just put lines on it,” Councilman John Nagoda said.

Westmoreland County Parks Planning Coordinator Jeff Richards said work on the trail extension likely will start in late August.

“We’re all working on timing for this because, on Aug. 20, the borough hosts its annual Ethnic Food & Music Festival, which is a great event for the town,” Richards said. “So we don’t want to go out and make a mess until after that happens.”

After construction is underway, Richards said, members of the Westmoreland Construction Group, the North Huntingdon-based contractor for the project, estimate it should be finished in three to four weeks.

“The hardest part is just getting everything organized,” Richards said. “If we can get it started after the festival in August, we’re hoping to have it done by early September.”

Borough officials did not provide a specific start date for work on the parking lot.

MORE EXPORT NEWS

• Export officials want more communication with nonprofit social-service site

• Export Historical Society adds a few more names to borough war memorial

• Export business owners spar with Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials over short extension